Stainless Fasteners
Security Torx Key (Pin Torx)
L-shaped security Torx keys for fitting and removing pin Torx tamper-resistant screws and barrel nuts.
About the Security Torx Key (Pin Torx)
Security Torx keys fit pin Torx (post Torx) security screws and barrel nuts, for fitting and removing them by hand on play equipment, signs, toilet partitions, number plates and fittings in public areas. They are L-shaped plain steel keys in T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30, T40, T45 and T50, sold individually. Order the key with the screws, as you cannot fit or remove them without one. Choose the T size above; the guide below shows which screws each key fits.
Also called security Torx keys, pin Torx L keys or tamper proof Torx keys.
Features
- Steel
- Pin-in (post) Torx security tip
- Sizes T10 to T50
- Plain finish
- Suits tamper-resistant fasteners
Applications
- Outdoor play equipment
- Signs, number plates and toilet partitions
- Fixings in public facilities
What a security Torx key is
A pin Torx (post Torx) security screw has a six-point star (Torx) recess with a pin standing up in the middle, so an ordinary Torx key or bit will not go in. A security Torx key has a hole in the centre of its tip that clears the pin. Hobson says the Torx star increases the torque you can apply, prevents cam out and helps the fastener last.
Ours are Hobson's post Torx socket keys: L-shaped, plain steel, sold individually, one key per T size. Hobson's product photo shows a Torx tip on both the short and the long arm. The same drive comes as a hex shank bit for a driver, linked below.
Which security Torx key for which screw
The T size follows the screw's thread size and head, so check both: a #10 self-tapping screw takes T25 with a button head but T20 with a countersunk head. The T size is also in the description of every pin Torx screw and barrel nut we carry. Select a row to open that key in the selector.
Each security Torx key we carry and the pin Torx fasteners in our range it fits, from the T size in Hobson's descriptions and Did You Know sheets. Self-tapping screws are gauge sizes (#); machine screws and barrel nuts are metric (M) or 3/8 UNC. Fasteners are 304 stainless unless noted. Keys are sold individually. Tap a number to show it in the selector above.
| Key | Fits these pin Torx fasteners |
|---|---|
| T10 | #6 self-tapping screws (button and countersunk); M3 machine screws (button and countersunk) |
| T15 | #8 self-tapping screws (button and countersunk) |
| T20 | #10 countersunk self-tapping screws; M4 machine screws (button and countersunk); M4 countersunk barrel nuts (316) |
| T25 | #10 button self-tapping screws; M5 machine screws (button and countersunk); M5 button barrel nuts (304) and M5 countersunk barrel nuts (316); #10-16 x 25 button head self-drilling metal screws (410 stainless) |
| T27 | #14 button self-tapping screws |
| T30 | #14 countersunk self-tapping screws; M6 machine screws (button and countersunk); M6 button barrel nuts (304) and M6 countersunk barrel nuts (316) |
| T40 | M8 machine screws (button and countersunk); M8 button barrel nuts (304) and M8 countersunk barrel nuts (316) |
| T45 | M10 button machine screws; 3/8 UNC button machine screws; M10 button barrel nuts (304), M10 countersunk barrel nuts (316) and 3/8 UNC button barrel nuts (304) |
| T50 | M12 button machine screws |
Security Torx key or bit?
- Key: turned by hand, with nothing else needed. It reaches screws where a drill or driver will not fit, and suits maintenance crews who take fixings out and refit them.
- Bit: a hex shank bit for a driver or bit holder, for fitting a lot of screws. Hobson makes it in the same T10 to T50 sizes.
- One key per pair: on our button barrel nuts and button machine screws of the same thread (M5, M6, M8 and M10) the T size is the same, so one key fits both halves of a two-way fixing.
Using a security Torx key
- Match the T size to the screw (table above). A smaller key will round out the recess.
- Seat the tip fully, so the pin sits inside the hole in the tip, and keep the key in line with the screw.
- Turn steadily and stop when the head is snug. With stainless screws, Hobson's galling guide suggests a slower installation speed and a thread lubricant containing molybdenum disulphide, so the threads do not seize.
- Keep the keys secure. Pin Torx screws stop casual tampering; anyone with the matching key can still remove them.
Where pin Torx fixings are used
Hobson lists its pin Torx barrel nuts for outdoor play equipment, fixings in public facilities and other public areas. Other common uses are signs, toilet partitions, number plates and anything worth stealing. Order the key or bit with the screws: without one you cannot fit them, or take them out later.
Plain steel
Hobson lists the keys as plain steel (no coating). They are tools, not fixings: they are not made to be left on site, and their finish has no bearing on the stainless screws they drive.
Security Torx keys in Adelaide
Allmat supplies security Torx keys, pin Torx bits, pin Torx screws and barrel nuts to councils, sign makers, maintenance crews, builders and trade across Adelaide and South Australia. Add the keys to a quote with the screws, and we will price the lot.
Security Torx keys with the screws they fit
Pin Torx security keys, bits, security screws and barrel nuts are available to order from Allmat for councils, sign makers, playground and facility maintenance crews, builders and trade across Adelaide and South Australia. Order through Allmat, we pick and pack it, then click and collect from the Allmat yard or have it delivered to site.
Goes with
Questions
What is a security Torx key?
An L-shaped key with a Torx tip that has a hole in the centre, so it fits over the pin in a pin Torx (tamper resistant Torx) screw. Ours come in T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30, T40, T45 and T50.
What size security Torx key do I need?
It depends on the screw size and head. For button head machine screws: M3 T10, M4 T20, M5 T25, M6 T30, M8 T40, M10 T45 and M12 T50. Self-tapping screws differ by head, such as #10 button T25 and #10 countersunk T20. The full list is in the table.
Why will my normal Torx key not fit?
The pin in the centre of a security screw blocks a solid Torx tip. You need a security Torx key or bit of the same T size, which has a hole for the pin.
Do these keys fit 5 point security screws?
No. Hobson's pin Torx fasteners and keys use the six-point Torx star. A 5 point security screw needs a 5 point key.
Is a post Torx key the same as a pin Torx key?
Yes. Post Torx is Hobson's name for the same drive, also called pin Torx, security Torx or tamper resistant Torx.
How are the keys sold?
Individually, one key per T size.
Where can I buy security Torx keys in Adelaide?
Order through Allmat. Order ahead by phone on 1300 03 03 63 or send your list for a quote, then click and collect from 25 Kapara Road, Gillman, or have them delivered to site.
Security Torx Key (Pin Torx): sizes and finishes we supply
9 lines by finish. Pick one above for its product code and pack sizes.
| Finish | Sizes | Lines |
|---|---|---|
| Steel | T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30, T40, T45, T50 | 9 |
Data sheets and documents
The documents for the product you choose are listed with the selector above. Here is every Security Torx Key (Pin Torx) document from Hobson Engineering.
All Security Torx Key (Pin Torx) documents (4)
Data sheets and technical data (2)
Guides and articles (2)
Need them in bulk?
Add the sizes you need to your quote, or send us your list and we’ll price the lot and supply it with the rest of your order.
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